The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025 offseason with high hopes, bolstering their roster with three key additions: Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia. Each player brought unique skills but also lingering questions. Ayton’s inconsistent effort, LaRavia’s limited track record as a reliable rotation player, and Smart’s extensive injury history were all points of concern for fans and analysts alike. Unfortunately, for Lakers fans, the fears surrounding Marcus Smart’s durability are already rearing their ugly head as training camp kicks off.
A Troubling Start to Training Camp
On Tuesday, Lakers insider Mike Trudell reported that Marcus Smart, alongside LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, and rookie Adou Thierro, was sidelined from training camp practice due to injuries. Specifically, Smart is dealing with Achilles tendinopathy, a condition that raises red flags given his well-documented injury history. While the Lakers remain optimistic that Smart will return to full participation by next week, the early setback is far from reassuring for a fanbase already wary of his ability to stay on the court.
A Career Defined by Grit and Injuries
Marcus Smart’s physical, hard-nosed style of play has long been his calling card. A former Defensive Player of the Year with the Boston Celtics, Smart earned a reputation as a relentless competitor who sacrifices his body for the team. Whether diving for loose balls, taking charges, or guarding players much larger than his 6’3” frame, Smart’s intensity made him a fan favorite in Boston. However, that same intensity has come at a steep cost.
Over his nine-year tenure with the Celtics, Smart rarely played more than 70 games in a season, missing at least 10 games in seven of those years. In the last two seasons alone, he has sat out a staggering 110 games due to a litany of injuries, including ankle sprains, calf strains, thigh issues, and various upper-body ailments. His aggressive style and the physical toll of guarding elite opponents night after night have clearly taken a toll. Achilles tendinopathy, often caused by overuse and repetitive stress on the tendon, is just the latest in a long line of concerns for the 31-year-old guard.
Why This Matters for the Lakers
For a team like the Lakers, who are banking on Smart to bring defensive tenacity and veteran leadership, his early injury is a troubling sign. Unlike his time in Boston, where he was a key cog in a deep roster, Smart is expected to play a more defined, albeit smaller, role in Los Angeles. His defensive assignments won’t get any easier, as he’ll likely be tasked with guarding dynamic scorers like Luka Doncic or pesky guards like Austin Reaves’ matchups. Being sidelined during training camp also means Smart is missing valuable time to build chemistry with his new teammates, a critical factor for a team aiming to compete in the loaded Western Conference.
Lakers fans had hoped Smart’s injury-prone days were behind him, or at least that a reduced role would help preserve his health. However, the reality of his Achilles tendinopathy diagnosis suggests that the wear and tear of his career may continue to haunt him—and the Lakers—throughout the 2025-26 season.
A Glimmer of Hope?
Despite the early setback, there’s still reason for cautious optimism. The Lakers’ medical staff is hopeful that Smart’s condition will improve in time for the start of the preseason. If managed properly, tendinopathy can be mitigated with rest, rehabilitation, and load management—something the Lakers are likely to prioritize given Smart’s history. His experience and defensive prowess remain invaluable, even in a limited role, and a healthy Smart could be a game-changer for a Lakers team looking to make a deep playoff run.
As the Lakers’ preseason approaches, all eyes will be on Marcus Smart’s recovery. Fans are desperate for good news, hoping that this early injury is merely a bump in the road rather than a sign of things to come. For now, Smart’s Achilles tendinopathy serves as a stark reminder of the risks the Lakers took when acquiring a player with his injury history. Whether he can overcome this latest setback and prove his worth on the court remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Lakers fans are already bracing themselves for the possibility that their nightmares about Smart’s health are becoming reality.